Santa Barbara County Main Jail

Start your search for an inmate in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail at the Official Jail Inmate Roster, which shows charges, bond, visitation eligibility, and mugshots. For more information, call the jail at 805-681-4260. Need a courthouse? Look up the criminal courts for Santa Barbara County or any other California county.

Santa Barbara County Main Jail Inmate Search

For questions about an arrest warrant in Santa Barbara County or anywhere in California, or about a court case involving you, a friend, or a relative, begin with the California Superior Court.

The California Constitution gives most criminal defendants in Santa Barbara County a right to pretrial release on bail, with exceptions for certain capital and violent felony cases. The California Supreme Court has ruled that judges must consider a defendant’s ability to pay, and that holding someone only because they can’t afford bail is unconstitutional unless no less restrictive condition would protect public safety or ensure their return to court. Rule 4.101 also bars judges from considering a defendant’s request for a jury trial.

The simplest way to find an offender’s bail is to call the Santa Barbara County Main Jail at 805-681-4260. If you know the crime they’ve been accused of, you can also check the Santa Barbara County bail schedule. Bail in this county can be paid with cash, a surety bond, or a property bond.

The licensed capacity of the Santa Barbara County Main Jail is 819 inmates, though the jail frequently has to make room for more, especially on weekends. Most city and county jails in California see at least 35-40% of inmates turn over monthly, 25-30% more every 90 days, and 15-20% more every six months, while around 8-9% remain six to twelve months. Stays longer than twelve months are usually tied to serious charges such as rape or murder. Those cases take time to prepare for trial, which means offenders arrested in this county stay in custody at one of the Santa Barbara County facilities much longer.

Santa Barbara County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 27,600 offenders annually.

How do you pay bail for someone who has been arrested in Santa Barbara County?

When an offender is arrested and brought to the Santa Barbara County Main Jail in Santa Barbara for booking, there are several outcomes after being processed.

1. The offender will be released with no bail, promising to return on a specific date to appear before a judge in either Municipal or Santa Barbara County Court.
2. The offender is ordered to remain in jail until their court date.
3. The offender is allowed to be released after paying a specified bond or bail.  Call 805-681-4260 to get the exact amount.

The payment of an offender's bail or bond can take many shapes.

• A cash bond is paid in full at the jail's bonding window or the clerk of court, usually by cash, cashier's check or money order, and many jails also take debit or credit cards through a lobby kiosk or an online bond vendor for an added fee; bring the inmate's full name and booking number, and the jail's number is 805-681-4260.
• It can be paid using a bail company, licensed to do business in Santa Barbara County.
• Many courts accept land or a home as bond collateral; the owner shows clear title and equity of at least the bond amount, often double, using a deed and a recent tax or appraisal value, and the court that set bail approves the property.

For detailed Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the entire bail process in Santa Barbara County California, check out the Santa Barbara County Main Jail Bail Page.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail? What is the Schedule?

Santa Barbara County Main Jail INMATE VISITATION SCHEDULE
(scroll down for IRC visits)

4436 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
805-681-4260

• Confirm your inmate's housing location.
• All Visits are 45 minutes.
• A maximum of 2 visitors (including children) may visit an inmate at any one time. Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
• Adult visitors must have a valid state or federal government ID.
• All visitors must check in together up to one hour before the scheduled visit, BUT NO LATER THAN 15 MINUTES BEFORE.
• Visits are first come, first serve.
• Visitors must be placed on a visitation list which the inmate provides. 4 visitors can be on the list. the list can be updated the last 3 days of the month and the first 3 days the inmate is in custody.
• If you've recently been in jail (within the past 12 months), or if you've done prison time, call 805-681-4260 to get for special permission to visit.

IRC INMATE VISITATION SCHEDULE
Saturdays and Sundays Only (scroll up for Main Jail)

4436 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
805-681-4260

• Confirm your inmate's housing location.
• All Visits are 45 minutes.
• A maximum of 2 visitors (including children) may visit an inmate at any one time. Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
• Adult visitors must have a valid state or federal government ID.
• All visitors must check in together up to one hour before the scheduled visit, BUT NO LATER THAN 15 MINUTES BEFORE.
• Visits are first come, first serve.
• Visitors must be placed on a visitation list which the inmate provides. 4 visitors can be on the list. the list can be updated the last 3 days of the month and the first 3 days the inmate is in custody.
• If you've recently been in jail (within the past 12 months), or if you've done prison time, call 805-681-4260 to get for special permission to visit.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Barbara County Main Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 805-681-4260 for further assistance.

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail?

How to Deposit Money into an Inmate's Account in Santa Barbara County Main Jail

To deposit money into the account of an inmate in Santa Barbara County, follow these instructions:

• Create an account with Touchpay Services, a GTL company.
• 
• Select California.
• Select Santa Barbara County Main Jail
• Enter the Inmate ID of your inmate.  This can be found by calling 805-681-4260 or by looking up the inmate's name in the Inmate Search link.
• Enter your billing information and send money.
• You can also deposit cash using the kiosk at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail.  To do this you need the Inmate's ID Number and the Facility Locator Number for Santa Barbara County.

For all the information you need regarding making an inmate deposit, what it costs, how much you can send, how long it takes for your inmate to receive funds and more, and to get the Facility Locator Number, check out our Send Money Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Barbara County Main Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 805-681-4260 for further assistance.

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail?

How Do Inmates in Santa Barbara County Main Jail Make or Receive Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in Santa Barbara County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

1.  Start by confirming that Santa Barbara County Main Jail has the phone service you need to communicate with your inmate by the facility lookup here.
2. In the meantime, you can create an account here for Viapath / GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account. This account can be controlled by just you, or by both you and your inmate.
4. Last, select Santa Barbara County Main Jail, and then the inmate you wish to communicate with.

Services vary by jail. GettingOut shows what this facility offers.

Phone & Voicemail Fees
Call rates, deposit fees and voicemail prices depend on the jail's contract. Check them on GettingOut or by calling 866-516-0115 before you add money.

Note: Rates are subject to change.

Types of Phone Calls

Prepaid calls (Direct Calls)
With Prepaid Calls you add money to a GettingOut account so the inmate can call your number. Ask GettingOut which other account types are offered at this jail.

Customer Service
If you have any questions about the Santa Barbara County Main Jail GettingOut phone services, you can call them at 866-516-0115.

* All the information you need to understand making and receiving phone calls with inmates in Santa Barbara County, can be found on our Inmate Phone Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Barbara County Main Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 805-681-4260 for further assistance.

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail, and what can I send them?

Santa Barbara County Main Jail Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?

For inmates receiving mail in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.

All mail is to be shipped to the Santa Barbara County Main Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & CID Number
Santa Barbara County Jail
4436 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110

For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Barbara County Main Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 805-681-4260 for further assistance.

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail, and what can I purchase?

Santa Barbara County Main Jail allows pre-determined commissary packs to be purchased by friends and family of inmates.  

The service they use is called icaregifts.

Instructions

1.    Register here.
2.    Click the "Find an Inmate" button and enter your loved one’s first name, last name, or inmate number. When the information is entered correctly, click the “Search” button to confirm they are in the system.
3.    Select the icare gift you want to send them.
4.    Confirm the order in your confirmation email.
5.    Santa Barbara County Main Jail has up to 30 days to give your icaregift pack to your inmate.
6.    You will receive a confirmation email when it is delivered.

There are a total of fourteen (14) pre-determined icaregift packs available to choose from. 

They range in price from $10.49 for ten pre-stamped envelopes, 2 pens and a pad of writing paper…

… to $104.99 for a box of 85 snack and food items…

… with many gift packs priced in between.

Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (you must have an inmate chosen in order to review these FAQs for Santa Barbara County Main Jail

Contact Info:
888-439-5020 - 8AM–9PM ET, 7 days a week.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Santa Barbara County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Santa Barbara County Main Jail follow these steps:

• Register here to create an account with icaregifts for Santa Barbara County.
• 
• Choose California, then Santa Barbara County Main Jail, and then the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
• NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Santa Barbara County at any one time.
• There are a total of fourteen (14) pre-determined icaregift packs available to choose from. 
• The gift packs for inmates in Santa Barbara County range in price from $10.49 for ten pre-stamped envelopes, 2 pens and a pad of writing paper, to $104.99 for a box of 85 snack and food items.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Santa Barbara County Main Jail, as well as sending money to the inmate so that they can purchase their own items, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Santa Barbara County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Barbara County Main Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 805-681-4260 for further assistance.

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail using an Online Messaging Service?

Emailing and Texting Messages, Photos & Videograms

Santa Barbara County Main Jail contracts with Viapath/GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.


If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Santa Barbara County Main Jail,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

How Messaging Works
1.  Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.

How Uploading Photos Works
1.  Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).

Customer Service Questions
Call   866-516-0115

How to Communicate with an Santa Barbara County Main Jail Inmate by Mail and by Email

To mail or email an inmate in Santa Barbara County follow these steps:

When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:

• All mail sent to an inmate at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
• All mail must include the facility's address, as well as the inmate's name and assigned number.
• Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.
• The Santa Barbara County Main Jail has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations. 
• All the information you need to understand mail and email policies can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

Emailing Messages & Photos

Facility_name_1} contracts with Viapath/GTL/GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
 
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Santa Barbara County Main Jail,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

• Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
• After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
• You can also send your Santa Barbara County inmate photos and videos.

Customer Service Questions
Call   866-516-0115

Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.

All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Santa Barbara County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Barbara County Main Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 805-681-4260 for further assistance.

Do Inmates in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?

Santa Barbara County Main Jail allows inmates access to tablets to use for the services provided by Viapath / gettingout.

The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GettingOut, a GTL / Viapath company.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at Santa Barbara County Main Jail, such as:

• Music
• Books
• Games
• Education
• News
• Radio
• Television
• Read mail and messages
• Video visits

-  Free services are already available for use on the device at Santa Barbara County Main Jail.
-  Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
-  Santa Barbara County Main Jail Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.

What Does a Tablet Cost?

To estimate costs for tablets and other services such as phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page), but the following gives you a general idea.

Game Center:

30-Day Subscription: $4.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($5.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($3.74)

Seven-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($2.49)

Unlimited eBooks:

Thirty-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($2.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($1.74)

Seven-Day Subscription: $0.49, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)

Streaming Music:

Thirty-Day Subscription: $8.99, with an additional $16.00 service infrastructure charge ($24.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $5.99, with an additional $9.00 service infrastructure charge ($14.99)

Seven-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($7.99)

Newsfeed

Thirty-Day Subscription: $3.99, with an additional $6.00 service infrastructure charge ($9.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($6.99)

Seven-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $3.00 service infrastructure charge ($3.99)

Same Day Subscription Services

Game Center: $0.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($1.49)

Unlimited eBooks: $0.25, (Total = 0.25)

Newsfeed: $0.24, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)

FM Radio: $0.24, with an additional $0.25 service infrastructure charge ($0.49)

All Subscription and message credit pricing is subject to state and local taxes. 

Replacement Components - should your inmate break it...

Tablet: $249.99 per each

Charger: $8.99 per each

Earbuds: $2.99 per each

How Inmates Can Use a Tablet to Access Services at Santa Barbara County Main Jail

To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:

1.  First, Register or Sign In to Viapath/GettingOut/GTL

2.  Purchase the services you want for your Santa Barbara County Main Jail inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.

To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Barbara County Main Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 805-681-4260 for further assistance.

What are the other City and County Jails in Santa Barbara County?

Santa Barbara County County Jails

Santa Barbara County Juvenile Facilities

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Santa Barbara County?